Metaphors By Sylvia Plath Essay

When first reading “Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath, the reader may find him or herself confused, or at least unsure of the meaning of this poem. The poem uses numerous images that, at first glance, don’t seem to have anything in common. However, the careful reader (or the luck one) will see the connection: all of these have something to do with round, big objects. If the reader takes into the account the “nine” syllables, symbolising nine months, and the imagery that relates to bloatedness and roundness, then they will realize that this poem is talking about pregnancy. In fact, the poem was actually called “Metaphors for a Pregnant Woman” but the author changed it simply to “Metaphors.” This was a good change as it leaves the readers with the fun of finding out for themselves what the poem is about-- unless you actually didn’t understand the poem and are just now figuring it out from reading my critical response. In the poem “Metaphors,” by Sylvia Plath, the author both challenges and entertains the reader through expert imagery, powerful details, and amusing metaphors.
For example, the author states in the third line, “A melon strolling on two tendrils.” This is certainly not a usual image the people have of pregnant women. This interesting way of portraying pregnancy forces the reader to pause and imagine this scene in their minds. As a side note, while it may seem derogatory towards pregnancy, many pregnant women I have spoken with do feel somewhat like they are strolling around with a melon attached to them. This imagery paints a vivid visual picture in the minds of the readers, further amusing them and drawing them deeper into the